Recruiting and training the next generation of researchers the nation needs to compete in a global economy is a primary goal of research universities, and WSU is no exception.
While many departments are working hard to recruit new doctoral students, several programs have been exceptionally successful in attracting them this fall. One is crop and soil sciences, which increased its new Ph.D. student headcount by 12, which was five more than last year’s incoming cohort.
The program has shown tremendous growth over the past three years, increasing from 24 doctoral students in 2008 to 41 this fall. Department Chair Richard Koenig attributes the success to designation of priorities.
“As a department we have committed to making graduate education a priority, and we redirected resources in this resource-limited time to recruiting students and creating new opportunities to fund them,” he said.
Many programs show increases
In fact, as a whole, the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) has enrolled 72 new Ph.D. students this fall, for a total of 262.
In fact, as a whole, the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) has enrolled 72 new Ph.D. students this fall, for a total of 262.
“CAHNRS took to heart the call from the university administration three years ago to increase WSU’s graduate enrollment, with particular emphasis on doctoral students,” said Dean Dan Bernardo. “All of the credit goes to our faculty, who have responded in a truly extraordinary manner.”
Other programs that have notably increased new doctoral student enrollments this fall are chemical engineering and bioengineering, history, psychology, physics and astronomy, civil and environmental engineering, and chemistry. Chemistry, the largest doctoral program among the science disciplines at WSU, brought in 23 new Ph.D. students this fall, an increase of five over last year’s new enrollment headcount.
Opportunity and obligation
Chemical engineering and bioengineering experienced the largest increase in new student recruitment, with 10 new students over last year.
Chemical engineering and bioengineering experienced the largest increase in new student recruitment, with 10 new students over last year.
“The education of engineering Ph.D. students is an essential component of our mission as a land-grant, research university,” said Jim Petersen, chair of the Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering. “Gene and Linda Voiland’s gift, which led to the naming of the school, underscored the opportunity and obligation for us to grow our reputation and Ph.D. education and to foster partnerships with organizations like PNNL that facilitate this growth.”
Civil and environmental engineering also attributes its success to partnerships across and outside WSU – and to the hard work of faculty.
“Growing the size and reputation of our Ph.D. program are strategic priorities, and our faculty have worked hard to increase our doctoral enrollments,” said Chair David McLean. “Noteworthy successes include a new National Science Foundation IGERT (Integrated Graduate Education Research Training) doctoral training grant.”
Graduate School support
To further assist programs with their Ph.D. recruitment efforts, the Graduate School is targeting minority and international scholars to help increase doctoral enrollment.
To further assist programs with their Ph.D. recruitment efforts, the Graduate School is targeting minority and international scholars to help increase doctoral enrollment.
“In addition to our Fulbright scholar priority admissions program, we are working closely with faculty and International Programs to develop collaborative education and research agreements with universities in other countries to attract their top students to our Ph.D. programs,” said Patricia Sturko, associate dean of the Graduate School.
Associate Dean Debra Sellon is focusing on recruiting top minority students in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) disciplines.
“We are partnering with graduate programs across campus to maximize opportunities to recruit an academically gifted and diverse group of students into science, engineering and mathematics doctoral programs at WSU,” she said.
Interdisciplinary focus areas
Recruiting interdisciplinary students to work on complex global issues in areas such as global animal health, plant sciences and clean technology also has been a priority for the Graduate School. These broader areas of study also have seen increasing enrollments over the past few years; this year the individual interdisciplinary degree program brought in seven new Ph.D. students.
Recruiting interdisciplinary students to work on complex global issues in areas such as global animal health, plant sciences and clean technology also has been a priority for the Graduate School. These broader areas of study also have seen increasing enrollments over the past few years; this year the individual interdisciplinary degree program brought in seven new Ph.D. students.
Increasing new doctoral student enrollment is vital for a number of reasons, including research productivity.
“Increasing doctoral enrollment is completely consistent and complementary with increasing research productivity,” said Bernardo. “Increasing extramural funds provides funding for graduate students, and graduate students (particularly doctoral students) have been shown by (Graduate School Dean) Howard Grimes’ analysis to be the primary driver of research publication output.”
